TREES joins Shelter Animal Reiki Association

Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary is proud to announce that the sanctuary has been welcomed into the Shelter Animal Reiki Association as a founding shelter member. We are very much looking forward to working with SARA to promote the use of Reiki in animal shelters and sanctuaries.

What is Reiki?
In Japanese, the word "Reiki" means "spritual energy." It is not a religion, but a practice involving meditation, focus, and exercises intended to balance energy needed to maintain good physical and mental health. Reiki is used in numerous hospitals to support human patients. The benefits observed can also apply to animals:

1) Stress-relief and relaxation;
2) Physical healing;
3) Mental/emotional
healing; and
4) Spiritual healing (Reiki also supports the dying
process).

Reiki is not offered as a replacement for veterinary or other forms of animal care, but as a compliment to that care, to help prepare shelter animals for adoption into new homes.

What is the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA)?

SARA's goals are to:
1) teach and foster an understanding of energy healing;
2) teach the ethical approach to use when working with Reiki and animals;
3) provide a standardized approach to implementing professional Animal Reiki programs for shelters, sanctuaries and other facilities that assist animals in need;
4) document the effects of Animal Reiki on individual animals and the possible effects on shelter and rescue statistics as a whole;
5) serve as a world-wide information and referral resource for Reiki practitioners, shelters, sanctuaries and other facilities that assist animals in need that wish to incorporate an Animal Reiki program;
6) educate the public, shelters, sanctuaries,and other facilities that assist animals in need on the benefits Animal Reiki can provide to animals in need and their human
caretakers.

SARA hopes to build a database documenting Reiki's benefits in shelter animals, encouraging further use of animal Reiki worldwide. Reiki practitioners, working as SARA volunteers, will closely follow an Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics.

Code of Ethics
SARA members follow the Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics as developed by Kathleen Prasad, Founder of SARA and Animal Reiki Source :

Guiding Principles:
I believe the animals are equal partners in the healing process.
I honor the animals as being not only my clients, but also my teachers in the journey of healing.
I understand that all animals have physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects, to which Reiki can bring profound healing responses.
I believe that bringing Reiki to the human/animal relationship is transformational to the human view of the animal kingdom.
I dedicate myself to the virtues of humility, integrity, compassion and gratitude in my Reiki practice.

In working on myself, I follow these practices:
I incorporate the Five Reiki Precepts into my daily life and Reiki practice.
I commit myself to a daily practice of self-healing and spiritual development so that I can be a clear and strong channel for healing energy.
I nurture a belief in the sacred nature of all beings, and in the value and depth of animalkind as our partners on this planet.
I listen to the wisdom of my heart, remembering that we are all One.

In working in the community, I hold the following goals:
I model the values of partnership, compassion, humility, gentleness and gratitude in my life and with the animals, teaching by example.
I work to create professional alliances and cooperative relationships with other Reiki practitioners/teachers, animal health-care providers and animal welfare organizations in my community.
I strive to educate my community in its understanding of the benefits of Reiki for animals.
I continually educate myself to maintain and enhance my professional competence so that I uphold the integrity of the profession.
I consider myself an ally to the veterinary and animal health community. I work to support their efforts in achieving animal wellness and balance. I honor other disciplines and their practitioners.

In working with the human companions of the animals, I will
Share information before the treatment about my healing philosophy, the Reiki healing system and what to expect in a typical treatment, as well as possible outcomes, including the possibility of healing reactions.
Provide a clear policy ahead of time regarding fees, length of treatment and cancellation policy, as well as "postponement" policy, should the animal not want the treatment that day.
Never diagnose. I will always refer clients to a licensed veterinarian when appropriate.
Honor the privacy of the animals and their human companions.
Share intuition received during Reiki treatments, with compassion and humility, for the purpose of supporting their understanding of the healing process.
Respect the human companion's right to choose the animal's healing journey, selecting the methods, both holistic and/or conventional that he or she deems most appropriate, with the support and advice of a trusted veterinarian.

In working with the animals, I follow these guidelines:
I work in partnership with the animal.
I always ask permission of the animal before beginning, and respect his or her decision to accept or refuse any treatment. I listen intuitively and observe the animal's body language in determining the response.
I allow each animal to choose how to receive his or her treatment; thus each treatment could be a combination of hands-on, short distance and/or distant healing, depending on the animal's preference.
I let go of my expectations about how the treatment should progress and/or how the animal should behave during the treatment, and simply trust Reiki.
I accept the results of the treatment without judgment and with gratitude toward Reiki and the animal's openness and participation in the process

Traveller's Rest welcomes Janet Dobbs, a founding member of SARA, as our first SARA volunteer practitioner. We hope other Reiki pracitioners will join us as SARA and its programs grow. Please contact Janet if you are in our area and would like to learn more about participating in this new venture.